Law & Society Postdoctoral Fellowship

THE FELLOWSHIP DESCRIBED BELOW IS UNDER REVISION AND WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST. PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES.

Eligibility: This fellowship is intended for early career social science and humanities scholars whose research contains a strong legal component and who plan to compete for a University teaching position in the U.S. market. Non-US citizens may apply, but must meet the stated criteria.

About the Fellowship: The Institute for Legal Studies of the University of Wisconsin Law School will appoint a postdoctoral fellow for the 2015-16 academic year. Starting in TBA we will invite applications from scholars who are in the early (pre-tenure) stage of their career or whose careers have been interrupted or delayed. Eligibility is limited to humanities or social science scholars who work in the law and society tradition, for example, anthropologists, economists, historians, political scientists, and sociologists. Advanced ABD graduate students may apply, but the PhD must be completed before beginning the fellowship. The stipend will be determined in 2014, along with a research allowance and benefits that include health insurance.

The fellowship is designed to support a scholar at an early stage in his or her career when, under prevailing circumstances, career pressures or teaching responsibilities might divert the individual away from research. At the Institute, the Fellow will be able to devote most of his or her time to research and writing and will find a sympathetic and critical audience to support that work. Fellows are expected to be in full-time residence in Madison, to organize and lead a colloquium for graduate students, and to participate in the intellectual life of the Institute, which includes lectures, workshops, and conferences.

Deadlines: TBA

How to Apply: Application materials must be submitted in hard copy; materials sent by electronic mail or fax will not be considered. In evaluating applications, the selection committee will focus on the potential contribution of the candidate to the intellectual life of the Institute; the originality and significance of the candidate’s proposed research project; the candidate’s scholarly promise, achievements, and ability to complete the project; and the likelihood that the finished product will advance basic understanding of the topic. The proposed work may be in any of the social science or humanistic traditions associated with law and society scholarship, and may use any form of data.

A complete application consists of the following:
• Curriculum vitae (with complete contact information).
• Official transcripts (graduate level only).
• Three letters of recommendation (to be sent separately). If the dissertation has not been completed, one of the letters must confirm the expected completion date.
• A research proposal (8-12 double-spaced pages). It is essential that the proposal:
– define the research issue and discuss the theoretical, conceptual, and empirical literature in which it is grounded;
– discuss sources of data and methodological approach, including implementation of technique;
– discuss expected findings and their significance.